Ladugårdskarlens torpstuga

Can you imagine the lives of those who came before us? Right here, at Ladugårdskarlens torpstuga, whispers of the past still linger. Ladugårdskarlens torpstuga, a small red cottage nestled north of Stora Ängby Castle, stands as a testament to a bygone era. This charming 18th-century dwelling, with its gray gabled roof and wooden frame, once housed the estate’s cattleman. Originally built for two families responsible for the Stora Ängby livestock, Ladugårdskarlens torpstuga later became the home of the estate’s gardener in the late 1800s after the families were moved to the main building’s wing. This unique cottage boasts an unusual room layout, a feature that earned it the nickname “Lusasken,” similar to a worker’s cottage in Åkeshov. Imagine the cattleman and his family going about their daily lives within these walls. Picture them tending to the estate’s animals, their laughter echoing across the fields. A magnificent, ancient balsam poplar stands guard outside, a silent witness to the generations who have called Ladugårdskarlens torpstuga home. In 1972, the cottage was lovingly restored and entrusted to Parkleken. Today, it serves as a workspace for the staff who maintain Björklund’s Hage. Ladugårdskarlens torpstuga was one of eight cottages and dwellings under the purview of Stora Ängby. The others, now just names on a map, were Solbaset, Frökendal (Torfstickan), Björklund, Komötet, Nytorp (Mjölnaren’s cottage in Södra Ängby), Tyska Botten, and Pihlstugan. Standing here before Ladugårdskarlens torpstuga, we’re not just looking at a building. We’re peering through a window into the past, connecting with the lives and stories of those who shaped this land. The cottage remains, a tangible link to the estate’s rich history, a reminder of a simpler time.